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A recent survey by Girlguiding UK has revealed that almost half of teenage girls in the UK have suffered with mental health problems, with self-harming being one of their main concerns.

The research looked at the pressures young girls are facing. For girls aged between 11 and 21, self-harm was one of the biggest health concerns, closely followed by mental illness, depression and online-bullying.

A total of 1,574 girls took part in the survey. 62 per cent of those aged between 11 and 21 said they had a friend or knew of a person suffering a mental health problem.

46 per cent of those aged 17 to 21 said they were personally experiencing mental health concerns. Despite this, 82 per cent of girls taking part in the survey believed their parents do not recognise the pressure they are under.

Nearly all of the girls said their parents’ main concerns were drug use, smoking and alcohol – problems that have not been a major worry in UK girls since 2010.

The findings showed that girls as young as seven may be experiencing mental health concerns. The majority of girls aged between seven and 10 said they felt ‘sad’ and one in five, nine to 10 year...

If you have lost someone close to you, the following suggestions may help you understand your grief with more clarity.

When someone we love passes away, the pain we feel is almost too much to comprehend. There are many different stages of grief and different manifestations. Here we look at a few suggestions to consider when dealing with grief.

1. Understand that grief is different for everyone

It is all too easy to compare your experience of grief with others around you. You may be wondering why they seem to be coping better or how they are able to get back to their lives so quickly.

The truth is – everyone experiences grief differently. Your focus should be on yourself and what you are going through. Spend time with (and support) those around you, but try not to compare yourself to them and how they are doing.

2. Remember, grief is inconsistent

Grief can come at any time and in any form. You may be commending yourself on how much better you’re doing one day, then a song on the radio brings back memories and you feel...

A national survey by WebMD suggests that despite children showing signs of stress from the age of four, parents are not seeing a problem.

The parents taking part in the survey would mention how stressed they feel, but did not consider that their child might be going through a similar feeling.

The survey included 432 parents, with children aged between five and 13. The data was collected from the beginning of June until the end of July, 2015.

The results showed nearly one in five parents rated their own stress levels at the maximum 10 out of 10, and over 50 per cent felt their stress levels were at a 7 or higher. However, 48 per cent of the parents surveyed rated their children’s stress levels at four or below.

President of the American Academy of Paediatrics, Sandra Hassink, says, “Parents seem to be recognising their own stress, but they are not necessarily recognising the link between what’s happening in the family and how it is affecting the children.”

“A child’s stress levels can increase along with family stress, especially if it is unrecognised.”

A government paper has revealed that alcohol abuse, drug use and teen-pregnancy are declining in teenagers, but different problems like self-harm, eating disorders and lack of sleep are on the rise.

The findings were published by a group of senior civil servants from Britain. The paper has suggested that the changes could be down to better parental monitoring coupled with the pervasion of social media and the Internet.

When discussing the findings, experts said ‘digital immersion’ has caused a ‘rapid and dramatic societal shift’, something that is already having a significant impact on young people.

Some said the rise of social media and computer games may be giving teenagers less time to partake in ‘traditional risk behaviours’ (for example, under-age drinking). Others argued that the anonymity of the Internet is making it easier for teens to get hold of ‘designer drugs’ and legal highs.

A year ago we heard the tragic news of Robin Williams’ death. Since then, more celebrities have started to reveal their experiences with mental health conditions.

This is in a bid to encourage people to follow suit, with the hope of destigmatising common conditions.

Common symptoms of depression include feelings of sadness, low enthusiasm, extreme tiredness, guilt and thoughts of the afterlife. This mental illness affects over 10 million US adults and around 10 per cent of all UK adults. It affects so many people and if left without treatment, it can end in suicide.

Whilst professionals recommend various treatments for mental health conditions, an effective treatment for depression may be the act of simply opening up and talking to others.

Jay Pharoah, comedian, recently took to live television to discuss his experiences; “I was depressed as a kid. I remember when I was 12 and that was a really bad time. My mum was there to kind of help me through it…”

“I really didn’t want my life anymore, I was 12. And I remember she came in and stopped me from doing stuff. It was crazy.”

The Home Office has introduced new guidelines regarding mental health disclosure.

A new list of factors must now be considered before mental health crises are disclosed within employer background checks. Police will now have to look at how long ago the detention under the Mental Health Act took place before they make a decision on disclosure.

The issued advice will cover Disclosure and Barring Service checks (previously CRB checks).

Karen Bradley, Home Office minister, said this new advice looks to make the existing system fairer without compromising on protection.

“It is important that checks provide employers with the information they need to protect children and vulnerable groups.”

“At the same time, police disclosure of information relating to mental ill health can have a significant impact on the lives of those concerned, including their employment opportunities.”

The new advice, which was issued on Monday by the Home Office, states the following:

New research suggests premature babies are more likely to become introverted, neurotic adults, suffering relationship and career problems.

Babies born prematurely can often suffer trauma during medical intervention, increasing the possibility of the brain developing differently. Not only that, but the parents of babies born early may be more concerned about them, introducing the child to an anxiety-filled upbringing.

It is known that babies born before 32 weeks, or those who weigh less than 3lbs 5oz have lower cognitive ability than those born at full term and have an increased risk of showing autistic behaviour.

It has also been previously suggested that those born prematurely may be more likely to suffer anxiety – research was unable to prove whether this trait is a result of lower intelligence. However, the latest study has suggested the link between premature babies and signs of anxiety remains true, regardless of the child’s cognitive skills.

Researchers at the University of Warwick studied the personalities of 200 young people born very early or underweight in 1985/6, with another 197 born...

A brain-training game could improve day-to-day functioning for those with schizophrenia.

Developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge, a computer-based memory game has been tested on a small number of schizophrenia patients with positive results.

With results showing improvements in learning and memory, the game may be able to help patients return to work after a diagnosis.

Schizophrenia causes various psychological symptoms including hallucinations and behaviour changes. Many sufferers also have problems with cognition, with their memory often being affected. This can make it difficult for some patients to live independently.

The brain-training game has a wizard theme and contains various levels of difficulty. The players have to enter different rooms, find boxes and then remember where they put them.

According to professor Barbara Sahakian, who researched the impact of the game, patients who played made fewer errors in memory and brain functionality tests after playing the game. This, she says, is an indication that patients...